Metal floor construction



Nov. 2l, 1939. G. K. BRADFIELD Er AL METAL FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1937 57| NvENToRs Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITEDl STATES PATENT oFFlclav METAL FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Application January 9, 1937, Serial No. 119,724

s claims. (ci. 1894-34) This invention relates to oor construction in general and inparticular to metallic oors for railway cars especially of the refrigerator type wherein a water-proof construction is necessary.

Previous floor constructions for refrigerator cars have been with water-proof paper and treated floor boards, but such oors are objectionable since a certain amount of moisture is absorbed and the iloor retains odors from the lading which 1w may taint subsequent lading. Since a metallic Y iioor, if used, must be protected against the various slightly corrosive substances, such as salt water, it is necessary that the flooring be made of either special steels or of galvanized material.

16`-In rail car construction it has proven practically impossible to form a satisfactory metal floor of galvanized or special steels without in some manner breaking the protective coating and permitting corrosion of the metal at these points. It 20 is an object, therefore, of the invention to provide a oor in which sections may be interlocked without in any way affecting the metal surface.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a metallic floor formed of unbroken interlocked sections so joined as to provide an expansion joint therebetween.

A further object Aof the invention is to provide ametallic floor formed of sections which may be lowered vertically into position and interlocked with each other.

These andother objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

35, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the oor in assembled position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section showing at the left hand portion the joint as it appears with the sections first engaged and at the right the 4o sections as interlocked; A

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the use of the separate member to interlock the oor sections;

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view disclosing a further modificationv of a oor joint;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing a still further modication of the iioor construction, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the joint construction used in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and ilrst to Figures 1 and 2, itis seen that the floor is made up of a plurality of interlocking sections. In refrigerator car construction it is preferable x that the door be made inA as few pieces as possible and it has been found thatA the minimum number of sections that can` be handled is two on either side of the doorway which necessitates a single joint substantially on the center line of the car. When using such large sheets of metal 5 it is impossible to assemble the sheets other than by lowering one section vertically into engagement with the other section while maintaining the main body portion of the sheets substantially parallel. To this end one section A is provided 10 with a main body portion formed along one edge with an upwardly open channel having inner side wall 2, web 4 and outer side wall 6. The side Walls 2 and 6 of this channel are inclined upwardly toward each other, thus forming a throat 15'; or opening of less width than the web portion 4. This construction provides what may be considered an inverted keystone or an upwardly facing channel with a restricted throat or opening. The other section B is provided with a main substan- 20 tially plane body portion and has one edge formed with an angular section with the vertical leg 8 forming an acute angle with the under surface of the section and having inclination substantially the same as that of the channel side 6. 25.

The outwardly directed leg of the angle is for assembly purposes bent upwardly and outwardly as at I0; thus forming a U-shaped member in order that the distance between tip I2 and the outer surface of leg 8 is substantially the same 30v as the throat or opening of the channel. In assembling Vthese sections in the car section A is first placed in position and securely fastened by means, such as screws (not shown), inserted through the web 4 into the supporting stringers, 35.

then section B is placedsubstantially parallel to section A and then is lowered vertically into position and shifted horizontally a slight distance in order that inclined leg 8 and channel flange 6 will engage. With the sections in this position a bar or other tool may be used to drive leg I0 downwardly into engagement with web 4 in which position tip I2 will engage upwardly inclined channel wall 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The joint is one edge of each section will be formed with the restricted channel, while the other edge is formed with the deformed angle which is clearly shown in Figure 1. A

Referring now to Fig. 3 it is seen that section A is provided with a substantially plane main body portion formed with an upwardly restricted channel, the same as previously described, andaccordingly the same reference numerals have been used, while section B also is provided with a substantially plan main body portion and is formed with a deformed angle edge having downwardly inclined leg I8 which is subsequently parallel to the upwardly inclined ange 6 of the channel. The outwardly directed leg or ange 20 of section B is substantially parallel with the web 4 ofthe channel and of such length that it may vertically enter the restricted throat or opening of the channel while maintaining the main body portions of sections A and B substantially parallel. After the sections are assembled a separate curved strip 22 is dropped into the channel with the curved portion upward and a bar or other tool used to drive the curved strip downward to substantial parallelism with web 4 and iiange 20, thus securely wedging the sections together as shown in the right hand portion of Fig. 3. This joint like the one previously described may then be filled with some resilient water-proof material. In this form as in the form of Figures 1 and 2 the necessary resiliency permitting horizontal movement of the main portions of the sections is obtained through the exing of the walls 2, 6 and i8.

The modified joint construction shown in Fig. 4 is suitable where narrower sections, or sections of relatively short length are joined together. In this form floor section C is formed along one edge with an upwardly facing channel of restricted opening, which channel is formed by plane iiangew 26, web 28 and outer ange 30. 'I'his outer iange 30 is curved concentric with the point substantially coinciding with the meeting point of flange 26 and web 28. Mating floor section D is formed along one edge with an angular portion having a downwardly directed leg 32, curved on an arc substantially identical with that on which ange 30 is curved and with a forwardly directed leg 34 substantially parallel with the body portion of the section. The leg or flange 34 is of such a length as to permit the oblique entrance of the angular Aportion of the section into the restricted channel followed by rotation from the dot and dash position to the full line position. After assembly this joint, like those previously described, is intended to be lled with some water-proof elastic material.

In the modication shown byFigs. 5 and 6 floor section E is provided with a substantially plane main body portion formed along one edge with downwardly directed portion 40 forming inner flange of a channel, the bottom being formed by web portion 42, while the other flange is formed by vertically directed flange 44 adapted to rest against the side of iioor supporting Stringer 46. In order to secure this section to the Stringer an outwardly directed flange 48 is provided on the vertical ange 44 and this outwardly directed fiange is provided with openings to receive screws or other securing means 50. The flange 48 has its upward surface substantially in alignment with the under surface of the main portion of the oor section in order that it may support the oor section F in substantial alignment with the mating :door section E. The

door section F is also provided with a substantially plane main body portion formed at one of its edges with a right angle flange having vertical leg 62 and substantially horizontal leg 64 disposed perpendicular and substantially parallel respectively to the main portion of the section. After the sections have been placed in their proper position upon the stringers short bars 56 are welded, soldered or otherwise secured as at 58 to the inner flange 40 of the floor section. These bars are of such a depth and width as to engage the flange or horizontal leg 54 of the adjoining section in order to retain this section in its proper position while permitting a slight sliding movement thereof. The joint may then be filled with asphalt or other water-proof substance 60 which will effectively seal the joint yet permit relative movement of the floor sections. When applied to refrigerator cars it is preferable that a single joint located at the center line of the car be used.

It will be obvious that with each of these joints (except that shown by Fig. 4) the mating sections may be lowered vertically into position while maintaining the main body portions of each section substantially parallel after which a securing operation is necessary to interlock the sections. It is also obvious that with each of these joints the surface of the plate will not be injured whether the surface be galvanized or a polished surface of some stainless alloy.

While the oor construction has been described more or less in detail, it is apparent that slight changes may be made and such changes are contemplated as fall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A metal iloor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a rst metal section having a substantially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion, a second metal section having a substantially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly directed iiange, said flange being of such a width and form as to permit substantially vertical entrance thereof into the channel while maintaining said main body portions substantially parallel and said flanges undeformed, and means engaging a wall of said channel and said iiange for locking said rst and second metal sections together for relative horizontal movement of said main body portions.

2. A metal floor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a rst metal section having a main body portion formed along at least one edge with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion, a second metal section having a main body portion formed along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly dlrected ange, said flange being of such a width and form as to permit substantially vertical entrance thereof into the channel while maintaining said flange undeformed, and a curved metal strip insertable within the channel, said strip when flattened engaging said channel and iiange for locking said first and second metal sections together for relative horizontal movement of said main body portions.

3. A metal floor construction formed of a plurality ofo interengaging metal sections and comprising, a ilrst metal section having a substan-l tially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion, a second metal section having a substantially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly directed ange, said ange being of such a width and form as to permit substantially vertical entrance thereof into the channel while maintaining said body portions substantially parallel and said iianges undeformed, and metallic means secured to said channel and engageable with said flange to lock said rst and second metal sections together for relative horizontal movement.

4. A metal oor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a rst metal section having a substantially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion having a restricted throat opening, a second metal section having a substantially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly directed flange, said ange being of le'ss width than the throat opening to permit substantially vertical entrance of the flange through the channel throat while maintaining said body portions substantially parallel and said flanges undeiormed, and means retaining said rst and second sections together for relative horizontal movement of said main body portions.

5. A metal floor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a rst metal section having a substantially plane main body portion provided along at least one edge therewith with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion formed by a web substantially parallel to the plane of said main body portion and by upwardly directed side walls, one of which walls is connected to the main body portion, a second metal section having a substane tially plane main body portion provided along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly directed ange connected to the main body portion by a wall substantially parallel to the plane of one of s'aid side walls, said ange being of such a width and form as to nor`l mally permit substantially vertical entrance thereof into the channel while maintaining said main body portions substantially parallel and said iianges undeformed, and elastic material lling said channel substantially ush with the upper surface of the sections.' y

. tially plane main body portion provided along at 6. A metal floor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a first metal section having a substanleast one edge thereof with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion formed by a web substantially parallel to the plane oi' said main body portion and by upwardly directed side walls, one of which is connected to the main body portion, a second metal section having a substantially plane main body portion formed along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly directed flange connected to the section by an inclined wall substantially parallel to the plane of one of said side walls, said flange being of such a width and form as to normally permit substantially vertical entrance thereof into the channel while maintaining said main body portions substantially parallel and said flanges undeformedJ and means locking said ilrst and second metal sections together for relative horizontal movement of the main body portions thereof.

7. A metal oor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a rst metal section having a main substantially at body portion and provided along at least one edge thereof with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion, said channel shaped portion being formed by a web substantially parallel to the plane of said section and by upwardly convergent side walls, one of which is connected to the ilat body portion, a second metal section having a main substantially flat body portion formed along at least one edge with an angular shaped portion having an outwardly directed ange connected to the at body portion by an inclined wall substantially parallel to one of said convergent side walls, said ange being of such a width and form as to permit substantially vertical entrance thereof into the channel with said flange undeformed, and means locking said rst and second metal sections together for relative horizontal movement of the main portions thereof.

8. A metal floor construction formed of a plurality of interengaging metal sections and comprising, a. rst metal section formed along at least one edge with an upwardly opening channel shaped portion having a web substantially parallel to the plane of said section and connected thereto' by convergent side walls, a second metal section formed along at least one edge with an angularly shaped portion having an outwardly and upwardly directed iiange connected to the section by an inclined wall substantially parallel to one of said side walls, said upwardly directed iiange being of such width 'as to permit substantially vertical entrance'thereof into the upwardly 

